Predictive factors for interferon and ribavirin combination therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Aim: To confirm the predictive factors for interferon (IFN)-alpha and ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hepatitis patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b.

Methods: HCV RNA from 50 patients infected with HCV genotype 1b was studied by cloning and sequencing of interferon sensitivity determining region (ISDR), PKR-eIF2alpha phosphorylation homology domain (PePHD). Patients were treated with IFN-alpha and ribavirin for 6 mo and grouped by effectiveness of the therapy.

Chitosan oligosaccharides, dp 2-8, have prebiotic effect on the Bifidobacterium bifidium and Lactobacillus sp.

In order to investigate the prebiotic potential of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis of fully deacetylated chitosan polymer, the effect of COS on bacterial growth was studied. The degree of polymerization (dp) of COS was determined by MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry, and the COS was found to be composed of dimer (33.6%), trimer (16.

Emodin inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor-A-induced angiogenesis by blocking receptor-2 (KDR/Flk-1) phosphorylation.

Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone), an active component in the root and rhizome of Rheum palmatum, is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor with a number of biological activities, including antitumor effects. Here, we examine the effects of emodin on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A-induced angiogenesis, both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, emodin dose-dependently inhibits proliferation, migration into the denuded area, invasion through a layer of Matrigel and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulated with VEGF-A.

Characteristic of aromatic amino acid substitution at alpha 96 of hemoglobin.

Replacement of valine by tryptophan or tyrosine at position alpha96 of the alpha chain (alpha96Val), located in the alpha(1)beta(2) subunit interface of hemoglobin leads to low oxygen affinity hemoglobin, and has been suggested to be due to the extra stability introduced by an aromatic amino acid at the alpha96 position. The characteristic of aromatic amino acid substitution at the alpha96 of hemoglobin has been further investigated by producing double mutant r Hb (alpha42Tyr --> Phe, alpha96Val --> Trp). r Hb (alpha42Tyr --> Phe) is known to exhibit almost no cooperativity in binding oxygen, and possesses high oxygen affinity due to the disruption of the hydrogen bond between alpha42Tyr and beta99Asp in thealpha(1)beta(2) subunit interface of deoxy Hb A.

Synthesis of symmetrical bis-alkynyl or alkyl pyridine and thiophene derivatives and their antiangiogenic activities.

Fourteen symmetrical bis-alkynyl pyridine and thiophene derivatives were synthesized and their antiangiogenic activity was evaluated with the proliferation and tube formation inhibitory activity on the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Compounds 6, 8, and 10, rigid mimetic structure of curcumin, showed the potent growth inhibitory activity and the potent tube formation inhibitory activity.

Antidiabetic effects of chitosan oligosaccharides in neonatal streptozotocin-induced noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in rats.

The antidiabetic effect of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) was investigated in neonatal streptozotocin (STZ)-induced noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus rats. The fasting glucose level was reduced by about 19% in diabetic rats after treatment with 0.3% COS.

Human zinc fingers as building blocks in the construction of artificial transcription factors.

We describe methods for generating artificial transcription factors capable of up- or downregulating the expression of genes whose promoter regions contain the target DNA sequences. To accomplish this, we screened zinc fingers derived from sequences in the human genome and isolated 56 zinc fingers with diverse DNA-binding specificities. We used these zinc fingers as modular building blocks in the construction of novel, sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins.

Factors predictive of response to interferon-alpha therapy in hepatitis C virus type 1b infection.

Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has been used to treat hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-induced infection but has been effective in only about half of all patients. It is suggested that the different responses to IFN-alpha treatment in HCV infection may be influenced by HCV genotypes, HCV RNA titer at the beginning of IFN-alpha therapy, and the sequences of the interferon sensitivity determining region (ISDR). However, there have also been reports showing that these have no relation to an IFN-alpha effect.